Month: October 2022

GUA MUSANG, Oct 31 (Bernama) — It took a retired teacher Koh Keat Fu just five hours to complete a Chinese ink painting and earn RM368 for his work.

 

It may sound simple but Koh, 53, has had experience creating Chinese ink paintings since 2003, having learned the techniques from Chinese painting masters, Zhong Zheng Chuan, 72, and He Kuai Ling, 65, from Bentong, Pahang.

 

“Chinese ink painting is a unique branch of art as each painting carries an implicit message about animals, plants and landmarks that are usually not known to the general public except the Chinese community.

 

 

 

“This one-stroke Chinese ink drawing is not the same as watercolour painting. So if an error occurs, the painter has to change the painting spontaneously.

 

“Chinese ink painters usually leave a lot of space on the canvas so that people who view the painting can imagine filling the empty space,” he said when met at his residence in Bandar Utama, here, today.

 

Koh or his pen name Alfred Koh said that Chinese ink painting has its peculiarity as it can indirectly sharpen a painter’s creativity

 

 

 

“Actually, I didn’t know that  there are three or four colours in one stroke and how to create such an interesting effect. Upon learning this, I was amazed and began to understand the technique,” he said, adding that he had produced almost 400 artworks as souvenirs for charity and the public who placed orders.

 

He sells some of his paintings at RM128 to RM238 each, depending on the size and time taken to complete it. A normal painting is completed within 10 to 40 minutes.

 

The Penang-born who has been living in Gua Musang for 30 years, said he was encouraged by his teachers to open a drawing class for students.

 

“Since the Movement Control Order (MCO), I have been actively teaching via online classes. My teacher said I needed to start teaching as I would be exploring deeper to further expand my art knowledge and drawing skills,” he said

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has consented to undergo a medical procedure and follow-up examination at the National Heart Institute (IJN) for several days, starting today.

 

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, in a statement, said His Majesty would return to Istana Negara after undergoing the follow-up examination, which is expected to be completed this weekend.

 

“His Majesty’s health is generally good and not worrying,” he said.

 

 

 

Ahmad Fadil further said that Al-Sultan Abdullah was scheduled to undergo the procedure in mid-September, but it had to be postponed.

 

This was due to His Majesty and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah’s five-day visit to London, United Kingdom, from Sept 16 to attend the state funeral ceremony of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

 

“The people are urged to pray that the procedure and follow-up examination will go smoothly and that His Majesty is granted lasting good health,” said Ahmad Fadil.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

 

PASIR GUDANG, Oct 31 (Bernama) — The Johor government will seek the assistance of the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) to secure additional water tankers to overcome the water supply disruption here caused by a burst pipe last Friday.

 

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) was also assisting by coordinating the delivery of the water tankers to residential areas.

 

“For the short term, MBPG Mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abdul Rahman and the assemblyman are working together so that water tankers could be sent out.

 

 

 

 

“I have contacted MINDEF for additional water tankers and also the Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies.

 

“So, we already have the coordination for a short-term solution to assist the affected homes,” he said at a press conference after visiting the location of the burst pipe in Seri Alam here today.

 

Also present was SAJ Ranhill Network Director Khairul Effendy Tusam.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Khairul Effendy said the supply of clean water to the affected areas including the Plentong and Masai zones and Tanjung Langsat was expected to be restored in stages beginning tomorrow night.

 

He also said they were also working hard to repair the burst pipe under challenging conditions made worst by heavy rain last night.

 

“We expect repair works to be completed tomorrow evening which means water supply is expected to return in stages and at the latest, it might take 12 hours after the pipe is repaired. So we urge the public to be patient and pray that everything goes smoothly,” he said.

 

He said the burst pipe incident occurred last Thursday when Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd was laying pipes which affected water supply to 100,000 account holders.

 

“When supply was stopped, it affected 100,000 account holders but after we made a realignment of the water supply system, we managed to reduce the number to 60,000,” he added.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) — The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOMM) will hold discussions with several ministries to find ways to reduce the burden of street performers, or buskers, including matters concerning the issue of royalty payments.

 

Its deputy minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the discussions will also involve the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

 

“The pressing issue among buskers now is site rental, license and royalty which they have to bear and we know the buskers are performing without charge.

 

 

 

“Some of the local authorities impose quite high rental charges. If possible we want to discuss this so that it can be given free or charged a minimum fee,” he said.

 

He told reporters this after a gathering with members of the Friends of Malaysian Street Performers Association here today.

 

On royalty payments, Zahidi said plans are in the pipeline to establish a music corporation that will look into reducing the burden of street musicians.

 

 

 

“Besides that, through MyCreative Ventures, we also want to see how we can organise our own shows aimed at giving buskers a platform to perform,” he added.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 31 (Bernama) — Police are increasing the number of personnel at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) by two folds to ensure smooth traffic on the 15th general election (GE15) polling day.

 

Iskandar Puteri district police chief ACP Rahmat Ariffin said this is because there would be an increase in the number of vehicles on the Linkedua route, which involves the entry point at the KSAB building

 

“In preparation, we will double the number from 10 personnel to 20,” he told a press conference at Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters today.

 

 

 

Rahmat said the police will also identify locations that are expected to be the focus in GE15.

 

Polling is on Nov 19, with nomination day set for Nov 5 and early voting on Nov 15.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency